Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who goes out in
search of knowledge is in God’s path till he returns.” Tirmidhi and
Darimi transmitted it.
Sakhbara al-Azdi reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone
seeks knowledge, it will be an atonement for past sins.” Tirmidhi and
Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a tradition whose
isnad is weak, and that Abu Dawud the transmitter is declared to be
weak.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported God’s messenger as saying, “A believer will never be satisfied with the good he hears till he reaches
paradise.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who is
asked about something he knows and conceals it will have a bridle of fire
put on him on the day of resurrection.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and
Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Anas.
Ka'b b. Malik reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone
seeks knowledge to use it in vying with the learned, or disputing with
the foolish, or to attract men’s attention to himself, God will bring him
into hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from
Ibn ‘Umar.
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone
acquires knowledge of things by which God’s good pleasure is sought,
but acquires it only to get some worldly advantage, he will not experience the ‘arf, i.e. the odour, of paradise on the day of resurrection.”
Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Narrated Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “God brighten a
man who hears what I say, gets it by heart, retains it, and passes it on
to others! Many a bearer of knowledge is not versed in it, and many a
bearer of knowledge conveys it to one who is more versed than he is.
There are three things on:
sincere action for God’s sake, good counsel to Muslims, and hold-
ing fast to their community, for their invitation includes those who are
beyond them.” Shafi‘i transmitted it, also Baihaqi in al-Madkhal.
Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it from
Zaid b. Thabit, but Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud did not mention, “There
are three things on account of which no rancour enters..." to the end.
Ibn Mas'ud said that he heard God’s messenger saying, “God
brighten a man who hears something from us and conveys it to others
as he heard it, for many a one to whom it is brought retains it better
than the one who heard it.” Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it,
and Darimi transmitted it from Abu Darda'.
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Be on your guard
about tradition from me, except what you know; for he who lies about
me deliberately will certainly come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi
transmitted it, and Ibn Majah transmitted it from Ibn Mas'ud and Jabir,
but did not mention, “ Be on your guard about tradition from me, except
what you know.”
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Let him who
interprets the Qur’an in the light of his opinion come to his abode
in hell.” A version has, “Let him who interprets the Qur’an without
knowledge come to his abode in hell.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.
Jundub reported God’s messenger as saying, “ If anyone interprets
the Qur’an in the light of his own opinion and is right, he has erred.”
Tirmidhi transmitted it.
Narrated ‘Amr b. Shu'aib quoted the authority of his father from his grandfather who said that the Prophet heard some people disagreeing about
the Qur’an and said, “It was just on this account that your predecessors
perished:
they set parts of God’s Book against others, whereas God's
Book was sent down only to be consistent; so do not use parts to falsify
others. Speak about as much of it as you know, but where you are ignorant entrust it to him who knows.” Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Ibn Mas'ud reported God's messenger as saying, “The Qur'an was
sent down in seven modes. Every verse in it has an external and an
internal meaning, and every interdiction has a source of reference.”
Baghawi transmitted it in Sharh as-sunna.
‘Auf b. Malik al-Ashja‘i reported God’s messenger as saying, "Only
a ruler, or one put in charge, or one who is presumptuous gives instruction."*
Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it from ' Amr b. Shu'aib from his father from his grandfather. A version has, "Or a hypocrite” instead of "one who is presumptuous”.
*The word used here is yaqussu, which may be translated as given above, but which may also
be translated as “inflicts punishment.”
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone is
given a legal decision ignorantly, the sin rests on the one who gave it;
and if anyone advises his brother, knowing that right guidance lies in
another direction, he has deceived him.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "Learn the
things which are made obligatory and the Qur’an, and teach them to
people, for I shall die.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.
